When Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed legislation officially singling out much of Russia’s Ukrainian component, his ambassador to Washington called the U. S. plan a major issue. The continued shipment of heavy weapons to Ukraine had cemented “Washington’s prestige as a component of the conflict. “
The U. S. Army’s latest aid programThe U. S. military presence in Ukraine, announced Tuesday, includes more complex “HIMARS” rocket systems, weapons known to have helped the country gain momentum in the face of professional Russian forces, as well as other artillery, ammunition and armored vehicle systems.
“The source of army items through the United States and its allies not only leads to prolonged bloodshed and lower casualties, but also increases the danger of a direct army between Russia and Western countries,” Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on the Telegram messaging app. “We call on Washington to stop its provocative moves that can lead to maximum serious consequences. “
Russian forces have suffered significant battlefield casualties in southern and eastern Ukraine in recent days, in spaces Russia now claims as its own.
Putin on Wednesday signed legislation that was passed through Russia’s rubber-stamped legislature, officially annexing 4 Ukrainian regions following Moscow-organized “referendums” in those regions. The referendums were condemned via the foreign network as a sham, with Ukraine, the UN chief, the United States and many other countries calling the move a blatantly illegal land grab.
Despite the Kremlin’s claims to the territory, Ukraine has recently regained expansion space in at least two of the regions over which Russia has declared its dominance.
“They will be with Russia forever,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — when Putin signed the documents Wednesday to formalize the annexation.
Peskov insisted there is “no contradiction” in the Russian leader claiming territory even as Russian forces were driven from lines they have held for months in southern and eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military said Wednesday it had recaptured more villages in the southern Kherson region and that the Ukrainian national flag flying in seven villages was recently recovered through Russian forces, The Associated Press reported.
Multiple explosions took place on Wednesday in Bila Tserkva, a city 80 km south of the capital Kiev. A Ukrainian regional official said the explosions gave the impression of being caused by suicide bombers introduced by Russian forces. drones in recent weeks. Explosive-laden drones can stay in the air for long periods of time before diving to hit targets and explode at the last moment.